Some significant differences in wall chemistry among four commercial Agaricus bisporus strains

Significant differences in gross wall chemical composition were detected in four commercial Agaricus bisporus strains. All were grown under the same conditions and their walls prepared by a mild method of breakage. A more detailed analysis of the wall fractions, isolated by means of their distinct solubilities, also showed striking structural differences among the four strains studied. The detected differences, not only in the overall composition of the wall but also in the polysaccharide structure, could assist in the characterization of strains and/or varieties of the commercial basidiomycete A. bisporus.     

Production of hydrogen peroxide by Lactobacillus hilgardii and its effect on Leuconostoc oenos growth

In mixed culture of Lactobacillus hilgardii X₁B and Leuconostoc oenos X₂L, isolated from Argentinian wines, an amensalistic growth response was observed: Leuconostoc oenos did not grow, and after 24 h of incubation at 30°C no viable cells were detected. In pure and mixed cultures, Lactobacillus hilgardii produced hydrogen peroxide early in the growth cycle, reaching the maximum at 24 h. The values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for the action of hydrogen peroxide on the growth of Leuconostoc oenos were: 4.08g ml^-1 and 17.00 g ml^-1 respectively.     

Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria as source of phycobiliprotein pigments. Composition and growth performance of ten filamentous heterocystous strains

Ten strains of filamentous, heterocystous nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) were screened for growth performance and tolerance to temperature, pH, irradiance and salinity, together with their potential as producers of phycobiliprotein pigments. Phycobiliproteins typically accounted for about 50% total cell protein, the prevalent type being C-phycocyanin, followed by alloppycocyanin, with levels of 17 and 11% d.wt, respectively, in some strains of Anabaena and Nostoc. C-phycoerythrin was the major pigment in several Nostoc strains, reaching 10% d.wt. Some strains represent, therefore, excellent sources of one or more phycobiliproteins. All strains tolerated an irradiance of ca 2000 μmol photon m^-2 s^-1. Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047 and Nostoc sp. (Albufera) exhibited the widest optimum range of both temperature (30–45 and 25–40 °C) and pH (6.5–9.5 and 6.0–9.0) for growth, the former also showing significant salt tolerance. In an outdoor open system, productivity of cultures of two phycoerythrin-rich strains of Nostoc was over 20 g (d.wt) m^-2 d^-1 during summer. The growth performance of the allophycocyanin-rich Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047 in outdoor semi-continuous culture has been assessed throughout the year. Productivity values under optimized conditions ranged from 9 (winter) to 24 (summer) g (d.wt) m^-2 d^-1.     

In vitro pollen germination of species and two interspecific hybrids from the genus Brassica

In vitro pollen germination of five species and two interspecific hybrids from the genus Brassica was tested in four media. Genetically fixed differences in the demands for optimal pollen germination among species were found. The experiments were designed to define optimal content of mineral salts, sugar, and PEG for every investigated species or hybrids. The differences found among species are discussed in relation to the evolutionary trend.     

Constrained C-terminal hexapeptide neurotensin analogues containing a 3-oxoindolizidine skeleton

Summary In order to enforce different spatial orientations in the C-terminal hexapeptide of neurotensin (NT_8–13) and to gain information about the importance of the 10–11 peptide bond for binding to NT receptors, the Pro¹⁰-Tyr¹¹ fragment has been replaced with (2R,8S,8aR)-, (2S,8S,8aR)-, (2S,8S,8aS)-, (2S,8R,8aS)- and (2R,8R,8aS)-8-amino-2-benzyl-3-oxoindolizidine-2-carboxylic acid. Molecular dynamics calculations and energy minimization studies have shown that, contrarily to the Pro-Tyr moiety, none of these indolizidines display a tendency to adopt type I and III -turns, but those having (8S,8aR) or (8R,8aS) stereochemistry essentially adopt extended conformations and the (8S,8aS) stereoisomer prefers a nonstandard folding. The four diastereomeric NT_8–13 analogues incorporating (8S,8aR) or (8R,8aS) indolizidines displayed binding affinities for the brain NT receptor similar to that of [Ala¹¹]-NT_8–13 and only five- to ninefold lower than that of the corresponding analogue, [Phe¹¹]NT_8–13. Although this slight decrease could be attributed to differences in conformational behavior between these constrained NT_8–13 analogues and [Phe¹¹]NT_8–13 or NT_8–13, it is not clear whether the -turn around Pro¹⁰-AA¹¹ (AA=Phe, Tyr) is conserved upon receptor binding. An excessive restriction in the motions of the aromatic side chain, imposed by the highly steric constraint of the indolizidine moiety, emerges as an alternative explanation. The findings reported here demonstrate the possibility of replacing the Pro¹⁰-Tyr¹¹ dipeptide in NT_8–13 with a non-peptide residue without affecting considerably the affinity for brain NT receptors.     

Palaeoecological and phytosociological reconstruction of precultural vegetation in the Bílý Kříž area,the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts,Slovak Republic

A combined palynological and phytosociological methodological approach was used in the reconstruction of precultural forest vegetation in a small model area of Bílý Kí-Janík in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy mountains (northwest Slovakia). Two pollen diagrams show the predominance of Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba and Picea abies in past natural mixed forests. The present-day occurrence and distribution of forest herbs allow the differentiation of five past vegetation types with above mentioned forest climax trees covering the area before the beginning of human interference. A map of reconstructed natural vegetation is presented which can be used for revitalization of present secondary spruce plantations, heavily affected by air pollution.     

Evidence from charcoal analysis for environmental change during the interval late Bronze Age to Roman,at the archaeological site of Castro de Penices,N.W. Portugal

Vegetation and environmental change from late Bronze Age to the Roman period in north-west Portugal is reconstructed on the basis of charcoal analyses. The site was occupied by people of the Castrejo culture, i.e. an Iron Age culture that developed in the north-west Iberian peninsula. The pattern of exploitation of natural wood resources by local populations during this period appears to be similar during the three phases of occupation. The frequencies of light-demanding plant species, mostly Leguminosae, testify to considerable destruction and degeneration of the climax woodlands. The preference of particular wood for specific uses, such as roofing, is discussed and the Holocene history of selected trees within the wider region is considered.     

Fluorescence of eosinophil leucocyte granules induced by 1-hydroxy-3,6,8-pyrenetrisulfonate. Visualization of differences in protein isoelectric points

After treatment of horse, rat and human blood smears with alkaline solutions of 1-hydroxy-3,6,8-pyrenetrisulfonate (HPTS), eosinophil leucocyte granules were the unique cell components which showed a bright green fluorescence. When stained with HPTS at pH 10, the whole granule of horse eosinophils showed high emission which strongly diminished after washing or staining in salt solutions or by using blocking methods for amino groups. Using HPTS at pH 12, the fluorescence reaction of house granules was specifically located in the peripheral region, appearing as fluorescent rings. These microscopic observations, which indicate differences in the isoelectric point of proteins within the eosinophil granule, were also confirmed by HPTS staining of protein blots as model substrates. Spectral analysis of HPTS at pH 10 and 12 showed practically identical absorption and emission spectra with peaks at 450 nm and 510 nm, respectively. Our results indicate that mainly ionic binding occurs between cationic proteins and HPTS in alkaline solution, and that the most cationic proteins (with isoelectric points at pH higher than 12) are located in the peripheral annular region of horse eosinophil granules.     

Viscosity decrease of pectin and fruit juices catalyzed by pectin lyase from Penicillium italicum in batch and continuous-flow membrane reactors

Summary The extracellular pectin lyase (PNL, E.C. 4.2.2.10) from Penicillium italicum was utilized in batch and confined in a continuous-flow ultrafiltration membrane reactor. The enzyme catalyzed the decrease in viscosity of pectin solutions at pH 6.0 as well as of different fruit juices at their respective pH. PNL decreased the viscosity of pectin solutions in the membrane (60% after 30 min) more than in the batch (46% after 70 min) reactors, but similar viscosity reduction of fruit juices was achieved in both reactors. The enzyme decreased the viscosity of grape, peach and melon juices to different extents, but failed to do so with apple or pear juices. It can be concluded that the utilization of PNL in a membrane reactor appears of interest for the clarification of fruit juices.